When John Paul II died in 2005, it was an event of such magnitude that Internet commentators took to asking Where Were You? when he died. (Global changes to my colleague Jimmy Akin's blog in the years since this post was first published have incorrectly attributed that post to me; it was really the work of Jimmy's friend and co-blogger Tim Jones.) In my case, I learned of his death...

St. John Chrysostom, I am told, said that the floor of hell is carpeted with the skulls of priests. I have never located the source. Nonetheless, when we hear our Lord’s words about millstones and those who deserve them, and we hear his words about “to whom much is given” et cetera, it seems that some—no, a great deal—of trembling is in order. Priests, especially, should be terrified by these admonitions. The opportunities for either spectacular glory (not the world’s kind) or...

"The Church has always taken great care that no one should be compelled against his will to embrace the Catholic Faith, because, as Augustine wisely declares: 'except he be willing, man cannot believe'."